Symbiosis

Symbiosis Not all relationships among organisms involve food. Many organisms live together and share resources in other ways. Any close relationship between species is called symbiosis.

3 Types of Symbiosis Mutualism Commensalism Parasitism

Mutualism – A symbiotic relationship in which both species benefit.

Cowbirds and Large Animals The cowbird benefits by eating the ticks and mites off the large animal. The large animal benefits from have the parasites removed from them. The birds can also warn them of danger.

Bees and Pollen Bees receive nectar from the flowers in order to make honey. As the bees collect nectar, they collect pollen on their body. As they fly to another flower, they pollinate it by dusting the pollen on the flowers stamen.

Mutualism Examples Egyptian Plover Bird and crocodiles

Mutualism Examples Goby Fish and Shrimp (where the shrimp digs and cleans up a burrow and the fish warn the almost blind shrimp against predators.)

Picture of Gobi Fish/Shrimp Working together!!

Commensalism Commensalism – A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits and the other is not affected.

Clown Fish and Sea Anemones The clown fish is immune to the stings of the sea anemones tentacles. The clown fish makes its home in the tentacles for protection. The clown fish gets shelter, but the sea anemone gets nothing.

Shark and Remora The remora hangs around the shark picking up any scraps it may leave. The remora gets food while the shark gets nothing.

Remora – see the sucker where it attaches to the shark?

Commensalism Barnacles adhering to skin of a whale – Barnacles get a free ride, whale not affected.

More barnacles on a whale!

Parasitism Parasitism – A symbiotic relationship in which one organism benefits but the other is harmed.

Tapeworm and Humans (parasite/host)

Tapeworms and Humans

Tapeworms and Humans

Tapeworms and Humans

Ticks (tick=parasite, dog=host) Tick attaches to dog and eats dog’s blood. Tick is a parasite – it is benefitting while it is hurting the host, the dog. Tick will not kill dog because it wants to live off of dog for a very long time.

Tick

Even Athletes foot is a parasite

Parasitism (laying its eggs to feast on the caterpillar)

Parasitism Mosquitoes

Leeches

Symbiosis

Predator/Prey Relationship

Predator and Prey An organism’s niche includes how it avoids being eaten and how it finds or captures its food. Predators are consumers that capture and eat other consumers. The prey is the organism that is captured by the predator.

Predator and Prey The python has captured and is eating the deer. The deer is being eaten by the python. It is prey. The python has captured and is eating the deer.

Predator and Prey Predator Prey

Predator and Prey Predator Prey

Predator and Prey Predator Prey

Predator and Prey This alligator is the predator. It eats the python. This python is the prey. It is eaten by the alligator.

Predator and Prey The alligator did get some revenge. The meal was too big for the python and caused it bust. This python swallowed the alligator. It is the predator. This alligator was swallowed by the python. It was the prey.

Lynx vs. Hare

Predator/Prey Relationship

Predator/Prey Relationship

Predator/Prey Relationship The presence of predators usually increases the number of different species that can live in an ecosystem. Predators limit the size of prey populations. As a result, food and other resources are less likely to become scarce, and competition between species is reduced.

Your assignment: Draw pictures of each type of symbiosis. Follow your instructions on your paper! If you don’t finish, it is homework!